Smyrna times., 1887-02-23
For the Smyrna Times.
The Gar Stove,

! y
Outspoken utterances of the press has
served not only to create a prejudice
against this mode of heating trains, but
also against the loose management that
invites disaster to life without the aid
of the stove.
The remedy, while perhaps nea. at
hand, seems far fetched, for the hue and
Cry to be raised against the heating
stove and the substitution of the steam
coil, or any other mode to maintain a
raised temperature. Take for instance
the superb equipment of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, everything that inge-
nuity can suggest or taste dictate, is
being constantly done regardless of ex-
pense, for the safe transit of its passen-
| ger traffic. Certainly, in the handling
of its immense business in this line
there is constantly being developed
among its armies of employees the per-
fected skill that guarantees safety under
nearly all circumstances. And through
out its entire system the stove is re-
tanned as the best means for heating
and not from expediency or expense.
But then, this does not relieve the
matter of its full responsibility, or place
it in such light that the public in
accepting this mode of heating will
also without question discount the ac-
cidents liable to the best of roads. Nor
for this matter is there any sufficient
guarantee given if the steam coil takes
the place of the stove. Then, the
fault is not with the latter means, and
it may just as well remain since no
guarantee can be given that accidents
will not occur damaging to life if it
should be abolished. With the excep-
ton of few minor cases, the principle
mishaps occurring on most railroads are
due to either, collision, derailment OF
open drawbridges, and each one Oi
these causes affords sufficient oppor-
tunity for appalling disaster with OF
without the eintervention Ofthe car stove
In the case Of collision, the block sys.
tenn and double tracks have, coupled
with careful drill, rendered it the least
liable to happen. Derailment, espec-
tally over steep embankments, is as
easily preventable as it is over bridges
by heavily boiling rail guards along
the ties outside the rails; and the last
is SO nearly the result of criminal care
lessness all around as to seldom occur
OF all things the "air brake" which
enables the engineer with single turn
of his hand to transmit with a vice-like
grip to the rear wheels of his flying
train with tenacity made up of the
concentrated power Of air and steam
deserves Cor its inventor already the
gratitude of many an adVerted disaster
But the air brake as force ends with
its application. The reversed lever ,
is the next resource in case of collision
and it too is the limit of prevention
and then nOthingc can intervene between
opposing trains on the same track tC
prevent the plunge that deepens into
the laundering crash to be re-echoeC
in many desolated home, when the
details become known; while, by mer
ciful dispensatiOn nothing is heard OF
the agOnized shreks of the heIples,
unfOrtunates pinned in the debris, soOr
to become victims to the worst of al
deaths. Ifthen, down grades, slippery
tra"ks and misjudged distances do to
great extent serve to make the un
doubted power of the air brake tn,
cause of increased damage, how nearly
does the true solution of the stOv,
question inrude itself? Since 81
clearly it is seen that the air brake anC
reversed lever do not wholly proven
these occurrences, fair rule, admis
sable in all mechanics should next b,
done; reduce the momentum of the
collision by appliances attached for the
purpose to trains carrying passengers
That this can be done by agencies fal
superior to anything yet attempted ii
perhaps, but a question of the neal
future to answer, and when inaugu
rated, place around not only the cal
stove, but equally the passengers all the
protection that is possible, to say moth
ing of the vast amount of property
saved from destruction. Hence, il
becomes evident that in every case
whatever means are introduced t
lessen if not altogether reduce the col
lisiOn of approaching trains at time
when the air brake and reversed levei
has been applied to their utmost. are
the true ones, and not as the grear
dailies all over the country have beer
clamOring for months, that safety i.
only to be attained by abolishing tn,
deadly stove and still leaving tn,
equally deadly telescope to occur. S.